Officials to mark new planetarium

Palomar College rebuilt popular facility

SAN MARCOS  Officials are scheduled to celebrate the grand opening of Palomar College’s new planetarium Friday afternoon.

A planetarium re-creates the night sky for visitors as celestial images are projected onto a dome.

The college’s original planetarium opened in 1965 in the Science Quad. It drew more than 10,000 people in its first year.

The planetarium hosted 200,000 schoolchildren over the years for astronomy education shows. It closed in 2008 to make way for new buildings on campus.

Construction on the new, 6,369-square-foot planetarium began in 2010. The $7 million facility, including construction costs and projection equipment, was paid for with funds from a 2006 bond measure. It will seat more than 140 people.

The first public show is scheduled for April 20. “Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos” will include a live “Sky Tonight” presentation. Telescopes will be set up on the patio for sky viewing after the show. Prices and times will be posted on the planetarium website, palomar.edu/planetarium.